Hunger Games Gets New Sound

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Danny Elfman apparently bit off more than he could chew and has now stepped away from The Hunger Games, leaving the musical accompaniment for the YA adaptation to eight-time Oscar-nominated composer/orchestrator James Newton Howard.

Elfman was originally set to work with T-Bone Burnett to bring some awesome sounds to the soundtrack for The Hunger Games but Variety brings word that the popular composer has had to leave the project because of scheduling conflicts. I usually roll my eyes at news like that because there’s almost always something other than the schedule causing a conflict. However, considering that Elfman is also currently working on Men in Black III and Dark Shadows, with Frankenweenie and Oz: The Great and Powerful waiting in the wings for him, I’m inclined to believe the scheduling conflict excuse this time.

Fortunately, it doesn’t look like director Gary Ross is going to have to make any sacrifices in terms of quality or talent because Howard ain’t no hack, with credits for The Sixth Sense, Dave, and Outbreak, in addition to co-composer duties with Hans Zimmer on Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, showing he knows what he’s doing.

T-Bone Burnett will reportedly stay onboard and the studio promises the transition will be as seamless as possible.

The Hunger Games arrives in theaters on March 23, 2012.